News for Wednesday

Dad has his appointment with the cancer doctor yesterday. After reviewing all the options, the potential risks and benefits they decided that they were going to give chemo a try. So, they are scheduled for a series of treatments over the next 3 weeks on Tuesday mornings. They will run the first series and see how he fairs and then they will continue on with the rest of the treatment (a 6-month run) if he responds ok to what he is taking now.

Christy & I were there just for a few minutes last night and he was WAY out of it. He had plenty of morphine in his system as well as a chemo treatment that afternoon. He was basically drunk. But it was ok, we weren't staying for long.

On another note, Tony has been having a real issue with being so far away and its really been beating him up being so far from his family during this time. So, Cathy, knowing the stress her husband has been under called Tony's old boss from So Cal to see if he would be willing to employ Tony for a month or a few weeks or two months. His old boss said he was happy to do so especially under the circumstances. So, she then called his current employer to ask for a leave of absense and they agreed as well. To top it all off, she had hit a casino a few days prior. She dropped $3 into a machine and won $400! That pays for a plane ticket. So, Tony will be coming down here for an extended period of time and will be able to continue to make the money he needs because his old boss will put him to work.

Pretty neat stuff. I will keep posting as things continue to happen. -- John

More Info

Just talked to Christy. She is at work and just got off the phone with her mom. Her dad had a really hard night last night, probably the worst pain he has had since this all started. She gave him ALL the morphine in the house to try to get the pain under control. She is now pretty nervous because there is no more morphine to give him if the pain returns. She had to postpone the appointment with the cancer doctor until at least later today because of the night. The problem right now is that he can't get any more medication until he sees the doctor. The alternative is to get a hold of the surgeon but he is out of the office. Christy is at work right now and a bit frustrated because she has come down with a cold of some sort, which makes her work day hard, and she is concerned that no one is going to give her mom the needed morphine until here dad is experiencing more pain. So that is the latest. I suppose how to pray is obvious right now. Check back often, things are moving fast. -- John

Quick Update on Dad Vergeer

He is coming home from the hospital today, he will probably be home around noon. He was given a couple of options regarding some of the problems he was admitted with. The solution to the obstruction was a procedure that involved a very long needle pushed into the side of his abdomen to remove some fluid. Not pretty, they said no. The surgeon came to see him this morning and told him to go for the chemotherapy because it could help matters but the are considering quality of life issues right now.

He is very happy to be rid of his NG tube and that makes everyone happy. Check back for a fuller update soon. -- John

Hey Everybody

I decided that this would be a great forum to keep people posted on Dad Vergeer's condition. Yea, I know its obvious but not to me. Sometimes I can be dense.

So, here is the scoop: He was admitted back to the hospital on Thursday night (3/22) and he spent the night there. He is there again tonight and he may be going back home tomorrow. As some of you may know, the reason for his admittance was because he was showing signs of retaining water. His urine output had been going down over the last week and he had been putting on a few pounds. After they admitted him they put what is called an NG Tube down his nose. This is to relieve any gas pressure or to remove any fluid from his stomach. They removed quite a bit of material that had been sitting there for some time. That was part of the pain he had been experiencing over the last week or so. If this goes well he will head home tomorrow.

So, what does this mean? Chemotherapy, which had been scheduled to begin this coming week will be postponed if not completely put off. His stomach is no longer functioning apparently and they have no reason to think that it will restart. Christy and I went to see them in the hospital tonight and he is uncomfortable around his abdomen and also in his throat because the tube irritates him so much. Also, they are starting to look at what it will take to just make him comfortable rather than setting him up for a fight that he cannot win.

Its all very hard on everyone. If you are not praying yet, please pray for them, specifically Mom & Dad and the time they have left. Mom is having a really hard time and Dad is being brave but I can't imagine that this is at all easy for him. Christy and I are praying for a solid finish, a good death... Pray as you see fit.

I'll keep posting information as it becomes available here. Its easier than remembering who to email. I will commit to updating this every other day even if there is no new news.

I hope you are all well. Thanks for your prayers -- John